UK Prime Minister David Cameron’s notorious advice that people should all ‘hug a hoodie’ has been much publicised and discussed. Following the London riots it has come under scrutiny again. Hoodies, certainly on the list of older generation, have evolved all kinds of negative connotations. Many young people, however, don’t realize why this will be so.
For many totally law-abiding teenagers, the humble hoodie is really a warm, comfortable clothing choice and nothing more. Personalised hoodies have grown to be especially popular among the younger generation, being a smart way showing your support for a club, team, group or cause. Plenty of youngsters get hooded sweatshirts composed as a keepsake from old schools, or fun group holidays. Hoodies are generally used as a way to remember positive experiences. Why do hoodie-wearers have such a bad reputation?
One possibility is that, even though vast majority of youngsters wear hoodies, the only ones who make it in to the media are the ones that are around no good. This could lead older people to assume that it is young thugs and criminals alone who wear hoodies. This may mean that all hoodies, even friendly personalised hoodies, get unfairly judged and maligned.
Contact with perfectly nice youngsters who wear personalised hoodies, or hoodies in general, could help the older generations to realise that the image of the dangerous, out-of-control youngsters in hoodies, isn’t the norm.
sp5der which might make people wary of hoodie wearers, if they wear personalised hoodies or otherwise, is the physical shape and design of hoodies and promotional hoodies. You will no doubt have seen signs in shop windows which read: ‘NO HOODS IN STORE’. The fact that hoodies have an, eponymous, hood might sound obvious but it is something which can make people nervous since it obscures the faces of wearers.
The images in the media of faceless gangs of youths in hoodies, even yet in personalised hoodies, can look particularly menacing, simply because their faces are hidden. While you are unable to start to see the faces of large groups it can seem scary as a result of insufficient human connection. Mostly, however, this prejudice contrary to the humble hoodie is really a media construct, mixed with slightly little bit of class snobbery and concern with the young…an unpleasant cocktail when you think about it.
Why not show that personalised hoodies are simply as fun, lovable, stylish and friendly as the next item of clothing. Since personalised hoodies are fully customisable you can spread any message you like using them. Use personalised hoodies to show school pride, university affiliation and club membership.